Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-11-17
RED HANDED CRIME SUPREME.
Ryan's Murderes Still at Large Protected
by Influential County officials Criminals
Parading Under the Name of
Regulators.
An AWFUL STORY OF REVENGE.
A Feud that Dates Back Forty Years--Al-
ready Wrought the Deaths of Five
Men, and the End not Yet.
An Officers Account of
the Lynchings.
Special Ts!egram % The Rcq,ster.

CHARLESTON, w. VA, November To-
There was somewhat OF manifestation Of
surprise and excitement in Charleston,
when it was learned this morning that Dan
eX.detective, the alleged in
stigator and leader of the outlaws who
Rev Thomas Ryan, at his home
in ROane county, this State, last month,
was in the city and in charge of the Eureka
Detective Agency. Cunningham is here as
a witness before the grand jury of the
United States District Court. He is we'll
built, rather fine looking, six feet two, and
does not inspire one with the belief that he
is the demon that he has been painted by
those who are his enemies. His address
is good, he talks well aud displays every
indication that he is superior in education
to the average cOuntryman. He presents
q fearless demeaGor, and talks freely of the
Roane county affair, as will be seen from
the following interview had with him to-
day by your correspondent. He denies in
toto any knowledge OF the contemplated
murder OF Ryan until after the deed was
Hesays: i am here, but not
trying to
EVADE CIVIL LAW,
but merely keeping out OF the hands OF n
gang of cut-throats, murderers and demons.
A report has been circulated that a war
rant was in the hands OF the eat thrOats OF
my country for me, which was trying
to elude. | went to the proper authorities,
saw the Judge Of the Circuit in which
! live and informed them that il they had
a legal process for me was ready to sur
render aud give bond for my appearance
when wanted. | was told that there was
no warrant tor me. The gang OF cut
thrOats are still after me, and are making
every effort they can to secure my arrest.
They met in the woods two nights last
week and tried hard to raise reward
among themselves for my apprehension.
This Is done in order to get me into their
clutches; should they get me, | wonld be
murdered outright. None of the outlaws
have been indicted as yet and it is proven
that several members of the Grand Jury
are members Of
THE CONSOLIDATED BAND,
who have for their motto self protection
under all circumstances. One OF the band
came to me to-day and said there were
twenty-three members, and gave me their
names. all of which your correspondent
has in his possession. The band is com
posed of residents OF both Roane and Jack
son COMMITTEES. and bear very bad reputa-
ton rs individuals.
Much has been said about this band do
ing illicit distilling. In June last, !, in
returning from Sabbath school, in Ken
tucky, heard laughing and saw smoke is
suing from deep, steep hollow in thick
Jungle. Will Scarborough was with me
and we stealthily crept to position near
where we heard the noise and there saw a
large still in operation, carried on by the
Kesers and Comstocks. | reported my
find ON Second creek. Jackson county, 10
the Government authorities at Charleston,
and warrants were issued and
PIT ~ NY HANDS
for execution. | arrested the parties
named. Bob. Duff was with me, and thai
was why he WAS executed BY the mob.
Last winter they carried on 3 still In
Kentuck. but claimed they had authority
from the government 10 do so. They sold
at random before the whisky was gauged,
and during the winter while this was
going on, in passing through the country
one could hear their demon yells, blasphe-
nv and firing of revsfvers. The most re-
voting acts were committed with aban-
doned females by those who run the still.
The work of the consolidated band, after
the murder Of Rev. Ryan, Sre too well
known in their lyncbins Conn and the two
Duff boys. who they charged with the
murder. The band was organized IN lsiO
by the early settlers. and my father was
asked to Join. He did not like 1t and re-
fused. That refusal was the origin OF
feud, from which many
LAwLESS DEEDS HAVE SPRUNG.
THE trouble kept up until the war dur
ing which | had brother shot by some of
the band. He recovered, bat vas killed
by them fifteen years later. The tneB
who killed him have been after me ever
since"
Squire =. C. Dawson, a well know citi-
zen of this county, who was near the scene
of the Ryan murder, said 70 your cores
pondent to-day: ''0n the Gag sfter Ryan
was killed was ut Prices store on toe
Jackson and Roane county line on bHsi-
ness when heard of the murder, with
Sauire Price, started to Ryan's to hold an
inquest, and when near the place, we met
about nifty armed men. Asa Harper, a
brother.ln-lsw of Ryan, snd ex-Deputy
Sheriff of Roane county. ald Slo Eas
with the crowd told Price, that they mad
started to his home for warrants foF two
men, viz: Perry Drake and George Dun,
Jr. he
GAVE Us THE EVIDENCE
and asked if warrant could be gotten Olt
on it. He was told it coRld. He asked me
to 90 back to Prices and aid in getting up
q warrant / did so. On the way back
Harper told me he had two ropes in his
saddle pockets for the purpose Of hanging
them. Drake, at my suggestion, was ar
rested without a warrant and taken to
Prices store. On our way to Prices We
met large number of men from jackson
county, among whom recognized Frank
lin Skssner, Bob Clark and the Skeaner
boys. When We had arrived at Prices some
forty odd more men.csms ap. lead by man
named Anderson. In all there were Seeb-
ably one hundred and fifty present Asa
Harper, Franklin Skeapsr. Be- lark and
,.iy sssss, sss :